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We don’t often get to share something quite this special. This spring, the family of our Director Karen took on a real challenge, and we couldn’t be prouder of them.
On Saturday 23rd May, Karen’s wife Rachel and her father-in-law, John Stigwood, walked 35 miles from Oldham Athletic Football Ground all the way to Whiston Hospital, raising money for two organisations that mean the world to their family.
They set off in the dark at 4am and kept going right through the day, finally reaching Whiston at around 7pm. Thirty-five miles in one go. It’s a huge effort by anyone’s measure, and for Rachel and John, every single step was personal. The day went brilliantly, and honestly, the support they’ve had since has left us a little lost for words.s
Back in May 2022, Karen and Rachel lost their daughter, Maddison, who was stillborn at Whiston Hospital. The care they received from the Bereavement Midwifery Team in the days that followed was, as the family put it, beyond anything they could have imagined.
The team gave them things no parent ever expects to need and none of them will ever forget. Clothes to dress Maddie in. A memory box, so the family would always have something to hold onto. A cold cot, which gave them precious time with her before they had to say goodbye. Small, gentle gestures that meant everything in the hardest moment of their lives.
A few months later, John was diagnosed with bowel cancer. Thanks to the wonderful care he had at The Christie at Oldham, he’s now cancer-free. The walk was his idea from the start, a way of saying thank you and making sure other families get the same care his family did.
“We walked for the teams who were there for us when we needed them most. If what we raise means another family gets the same care and the same kindness, then every mile was worth it.”
John Stigwood
Every pound raised is being split equally between the Bereavement Midwifery Team at Whiston Hospital and The Christie at Oldham.
The Bereavement Midwifery Team at Whiston Hospital is there for families going through baby loss. The clothing, memory boxes, and cold cots they offer aren’t funded by the NHS. They’re there because people give. The team is now raising money to soundproof the rooms where babies like Maddie are born, so other families can have a bit more privacy and peace when they need it most.
The Christie at Oldham brings cancer treatment closer to home, and uses donations to fund the things that sit outside what the NHS can cover. That includes mobility aids that help people find their feet again after treatment, the kind of everyday support that makes a genuine difference to recovery.
This was always about more than the money, too. Baby loss is something so many families carry quietly, often without knowing what help is even out there. By sharing Maddie’s story, the family hope to lift a little of that silence and shine a light on the team who do amazing work, often without much fuss and largely thanks to the kindness of others.
The response has been amazing. So far, £3,000+ has been raised through the JustGiving page, and that’s before the collection buckets have been brought in and counted, so the final figure is set to climb even higher.
On top of that, we’re thrilled that Duke Street Market in Liverpool has chosen Maddie’s charity as its Charity of the Month for June. This is the third year running they’ve got behind the cause, and their support has made a real difference every single time. A heartfelt thank you to them for sticking with the family year after year.
Karen, Rachel and John want to thank The Tim Bacon Foundation for facilitating the fundraising and making sure everything was running smoothly and efficiently and with full accountability for the funds raised.
If you’d like to support the Bereavement Midwifery Team at Whiston Hospital and The Christie at Oldham, there’s still time to donate here:
Whatever you can spare, big or small, would mean a great deal to two teams who give families so much when they need it most.
A huge thank you to everyone who has donated so far. Your generosity and kindness mean more than we can say, and they’re helping raise both awareness and much-needed funds for a cause that matters deeply. Thank you too to Duke Street Market for their continued support, and most of all to Rachel, John, and everyone who walked alongside them on the day.
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